Sustaining his rich vein of form from the previous game against Bangladesh, Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman came good when it mattered the most for his team, clobbering Pakistan's fastest-ever century in the Cricket World Cup. Zaman scored a 63-ball century against New Zealand in the 2023 ODI World Cup at the M Chinnasway Stadium on Saturday, eclipsing the previous record of a 95-ball hundred by Imran Nazir by a long way. Nazir scored the ton against Zimbabwe in the 2007 ODI World Cup. (Match Blog | Scorecard | Streaming)
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Zaman's swashbuckling century kept the Men In Green in the hunt in their chase of the Kiwis' mammoth target of 402. Pakistan were batting at 160/1 after 21.3 overs when it began raining and the match had to be stopped. Zaman and Pakistan skipper Babar Azam were at the crease, batting on 106 and 47 respectively. Pakistan were 10 runs ahead of the DLS par score at that stage.
Zaman has looked in supreme touch, and has smashed nine sixes and seven fours already in his whirlwind knock against a shocked Kiwi attack. He scored 81 in Pakistan's last game against Bangladesh, and is looking to take his side to a thrilling, unlikely win that could keep them in contention for a semi-final spot.
